Views from the Choir Loft

Chant Workshop for Clergy

Andrew Leung · December 31, 2015

AINT AMBROSE SCHOOL OF CHANT is organizing a Music Workshop for Clergy entitled, Finding your Voice: The Role of the Priest and Deacon and How to Sing with Confidence. The workshop will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Roman Catholic Church in Jasper, GA. The event will be from 10am to 2pm on January 16. The deadline for registration is January 5.

Fr. Charles Byrd and Bridget Scott will serve as the faculty members for this workshop. I have worked with both of them in the past; they both have great visions and knowledge of the Liturgy and Sacred Music. Fr. Byrd is the current pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains. Before that, he has taught in seminaries and served on Diocesan Liturgy Committee. Bridget Scott has been working as music director for many years, and she is currently serving as the music director of Our Lady of the Mountains and the chant instructor at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA. Here is how she describe this upcoming workshop:

Singing the dialogue prayers and chants of the Mass can be so intimidating for some priests and deacons that they are reluctant to do so. Others, may find themselves needing a few vocal tips or pointers to make their sung parts a bit more musical and polished. Still others may just desire to become more proficient in singing the Mass by practicing with others. The purpose of this workshop is to help priests and deacons (and deacons-to-be) to feel confident and comfortable chanting the parts of the Mass that are specifically theirs. Singing or chanting the Mass elevates the texts above mere speech and adds to the solemnity and nobility of our worship. It is a worthy endeavor. Please bring a Roman Missal if you have one.

A lot of people are making their new year resolutions right now. Would chanting the Mass be one of those? If you are not a priest, deacon or seminarian, please forward this to your pastors and friends who might find it interesting.

There will be a $25 fee for this workshop that will cover a lunch and the music packet. More information and the registration form can be found on the website of St. Ambrose School of Chant.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”

Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski